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Originally Posted On: https://www.nobofeed.com/fashion/how-to-pick-the-best-costume-and-real-jewelry-for-kids/

 

You have a young style icon on your hands. They’re old enough to start expressing themself, so why not buy them a gift?

Buying fake or real jewelry for kids for the first time can be confusing. How much money should you spend? Should you be buying them costume jewelry, or are they ready for the real deal?

We’re here to talk about all of that and more. Keep reading to learn all about picking jewelry for kids!

First: Consider Their Age and Maturity Level

When you’re buying jewelry for kids, you need to decide what they’re ready for. Many people get overzealous and buy their children fine jewelry without considering whether or not they’re responsible enough to take care of it.

Remember that a lot of “real” jewelry is fragile. When you buy something expensive for a child, you need to be reasonably sure that they won’t break or lose it.

When it comes to jewelry for little kids, it’s often best to stick with costume jewelry (or “fake” jewelry).

Costume jewelry for kids isn’t just great for wearing around. It’s also great for imaginative play. Children can use it in their games.

Costume jewelry is thicker, more durable, and less expensive than “real” fine jewelry. If a child loses it, breaks it, or trades it with a friend, it won’t be a big loss.

If you choose to get real jewelry for your young child, make it “special occasion” jewelry. When your child isn’t using it, put it in a jewelry box that you keep with you. When your child is a pre-teen they can keep the jewelry box in their own room.

Even if your child is older, their maturity level might not quite be where it should be for them to have expensive jewelry. You know your child best, so use your best judgment.

Consider the Child’s Lifestyle

You also have to consider what the child does in their day-to-day life when you’re considering giving them jewelry. Not all jewelry is going to fit every child’s lifestyle or habits.

If a child is always digging in the dirt and playing outside, fine jewelry isn’t a good option for the time being unless it’s “special occasion” jewelry. On the other hand, jewelry like rubber bracelets would be perfect for that child because the bracelets are comfortable and durable enough to wear while playing.

Many children, especially children who are neurodivergent, can’t tolerate certain sensations from jewelry. Dangly earrings or heavy pendants might not be a good option for these children.

Again, use your best judgment based on how well you know the child. If you’re not the child’s parent or guardian, ask them for their opinion.

Consider Birthstone Jewelry for Kids

Whether you’re giving it to the child to wear whenever they like or you’re giving it to them as “special occasion” jewelry, birthstone jewelry is a great option! Children will feel special when they get something that’s specifically for them, and birthstone jewelry fits the bill.

You can get birthstone jewelry in all varieties. Everything between anklets and earrings can have birthstones.

Check this birthstone chart to find the right stone for the child that’s getting the jewelry.

Buying Earrings for Kids

Let’s start with earrings. Buying earrings for kids is more complicated than buying other types of jewelry. Ear lobes are usually a child’s first piercing.

It’s no longer recommended to pierce a child’s ears in infancy. When you bring your child to get their ears pierced by a licensed piercer, they’re going to have a variety of jewelry options available for them.

But what about when it’s time to swap out their jewelry for new pieces? Here are a few basic tips.

Pick the Right Material

When it comes to earrings, picking the right jewelry material is key. This is one area in which getting gold jewelry for kids makes a lot of sense when it comes to earrings that they’ll wear full-time.

Good piercing jewelry is generally either 14k gold or implant-grade titanium (though there are exceptions, they’re few and far between). These materials shouldn’t react too much with your child’s skin even if they’re sensitive.

Pick internally-threaded jewelry that can fit tight to the child’s ears. Earrings with butterfly backs are okay for short-term wear, but your child shouldn’t sleep in them.

For short-term jewelry, you can give your child more flexibility. Hanging jewelry and jewelry in lower-quality materials is fine to wear for a few hours, but swap back to the “nice” jewelry at bedtime.

Consider Ease of Use

Earrings can be distracting or heavy for small children. Make sure that you’re picking earrings that they’ll be able to comfortably put on and wear.

While many children like the idea of heavy hanging or hoop earrings, they can drag the child’s sensitive earlobes down and cause irritation, especially if the child is running and playing. If the child isn’t careful, they could accidentally tear their ears with those earrings.

Pick earrings that are easy enough for a child to remove on their own but also sturdy enough that they won’t accidentally fall out. Threadless or internally threaded jewelry is perfect for this. Small hoops are also good.

Buying Rings for Kids

For the most part, young children don’t need rings. Rings are easy to lose, easy to choke on, and often expensive.

With this in mind, a few cheap costume jewelry rings will be great for any small child.

The best ring for a small child is a mood ring, by far. These fun rings change color based on body heat. They come with small charts that tell children what they’re feeling.

For older children and young teens, you can get more creative with rings. They’re beyond the age where they’re likely to break, swallow, or lose a ring, so they can start getting more expensive pieces.

We recommend picking out adjustable rings from a site like bodypiercejewelry.com so the child can continue wearing the rings as they grow.

Buying Necklaces for Kids

Necklaces are the easiest jewelry for kids to wear. Children of all genders wear necklaces.

Again, young children need more durable (and affordable) necklaces. Consider things like shark tooth necklaces on thick cords or chunky beaded necklaces. Better yet, have a child make their own necklace.

Personalized necklaces, like ones with a child’s name engraved, are great for pre-teens and young teens. They get to wear something cool and personalized.

When you’re buying a necklace for your child, make sure that you get a cord or chain that’s a good length. You want most necklaces to sit in the center of the child’s chest.

If it’s too tight, it will be uncomfortable. If it’s too loose, it may swing around or the child may lose it.

Buying Bracelets for Kids

Bracelets are often forgotten in the jewelry world, but children love them.

We recommend something different when it comes to bracelets. Consider buying a bracelet-making kit instead of pre-made bracelets. You can get string kits for friendship bracelets or bead kits for beaded bracelets.

This way, the child can customize their own jewelry and have fun making it with their friends.

When it comes to pre-made bracelets, we love charm bracelets for kids. They’re not as popular as they were in the nineties and early 2000s, but they’re great for children who love collecting things. You can buy new charms for holidays, birthdays, vacations, achievements, and more.

Let Children Choose Their Jewelry

One of the best pieces of advice that we can give you when it comes to buying jewelry for a child is to let them have a choice as long as it isn’t a secret gift.

Remember that children are developing their own sense of style that you might not be aware of yet. You want to give them a piece of jewelry that they’ll actually want to wear.

Take them with you when you look at jewelry or ask them to send you websites that have pieces that they like. Remember: you’re buying for their preference, not yours.

Use These Tips to Buy Fake or Real Jewelry for Kids

Whether you buy fake or real jewelry for kids, these tips are sure to help. Jewelry should be a fun tool for self-expression. Give the child pieces that they’re going to love!

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